What is the Territory’s budget position

BP2 Budget Strategy and Outlook

Table 1.1 provides a summary of the key fiscal measures in the 2023-24 Budget – the latest estimate for the current year, the new budget for 2023-24 and the forward estimates for the following three years.

BP2, Table 1.1: Key fiscal indicators

2022-232023-242024-252025-262026-27
RevisedBudgetForward estimate
  $M $M $M $M $M
General government sector      
Net operating balance 205 -200 121 209 282
Non financial public sector      
Fiscal balance -498 - 1 134 -574 -181 67
Net debt 8 291 9 231 9 849 9 984 9 861
Net debt to revenue (%) 100 113 118 122 118

The general government sector incorporates agency departments, government business divisions, and other entities (such as statutory corporations), that are controlled by government and mainly engaged in the production of goods and or services that are mainly non-market in nature and are largely for the collective consumption of the community.

The net operating balance represents total revenue less total expenses. It encompasses the full cost of providing government services, and therefore is a good measure of the sustainability of government’s fiscal position over time.

As this measure excludes the effects of revaluations and other changes in the volume of assets and liabilities, it demonstrates the fiscal impact of government’s actions that are largely within government’s control.

The Territory Government reports the fiscal balance measure at the non-financial public sector level, which includes the general government sector and public non-financial corporations, such as the Power and Water Corporation, Territory Generation and Jacana Energy.

The fiscal balance (also known as net lending/borrowing), reflects the net operating balance (excluding depreciation) plus net capital investments. This measure is a good indicator of the Territory’s call on financial markets. A fiscal surplus indicates that government is saving enough to finance all its investment spending. A fiscal deficit indicates that government’s level of investment is greater than its level of savings.

Net debt equals the sum of deposits held, advances received and borrowing, minus the sum of cash and deposits, advances paid and investments, loans and placements. This measure is used to assess the overall strength of the Territory’s fiscal position, and its ability to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

Readers can also go to Chapter 4: Fiscal strategy statement, which outlines the government’s fiscal strategy and assesses budget projections against the fiscal strategy objectives and targets.